Clasp for burial apparatus.



No. 633,208. Patented Sept. I9, I899. J. 'D. MOORE.

CLASP FOR BURIAL APPARATUS.

(Application filed Oct. 14, 1897.;

(No Model.)

W11 DVJi-SUSJSS'; v S Q UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

JAMES D. MOORE, OF ATLANTIC, IOWA.

CLASP FOR BURIAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,208, datedSeptember 19, 1899.

Application filed October 14, 1897." Serial No. 655,200. N0 model-J Toall whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES D. MOORE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Atlantic, in the county of Cass and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, suchas will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to clasps, and more especially to that typeembodying a pivoted latch; and the object of the same is to produce acatch so constructed as to be capable of operation from a remote pointto open the latch and throw out the strap held by the catch.

While the device is capable of use in a variety of places, -I haveillustrated and described it herein as applied to or used in connectionwith a Windlass such as is commonly employed forlowering a casket intothe grave.

It is a harrowing sight to friends and relatives to see bungling work onthe part of the cemetery attendants, and one of the most distressingaccidents that can occur is when the lowering-straps catch upon orbeneath the easket and partially or entirely overturn it or, at least,necessitate one of the attendants jumping down onto the coffin of thedear one and pulling out the straps. At least it, is highly desirablethat when the casket has been lowered to its long resting-place themechanical paraphernalia be removed quickly and without hitching, sothat the clergyman can perform his services and the shock of accident beavoided.

To this end, as well as to other ends not necessary to enumerate herein,the invention consists in a clasp composed of two hinged parts, a latchor pin for locking them closed, so as to engage a strap, a slidingthrow-off in one part, and a tripping device for u nlatching the partsand moving the throw-oit' quickly and surely.

The detailed construction of parts is described in the followingspecification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein cFigure 1 is a general perspective view of the framework and Windlass ofa coffin-lowering device, showing the use of my improved clasp. Fig. 2is a front elevation of the clasp open. Fig. 3 is a side elevation ofthe same in closed position.

The casket-lowering device A may be constructed as desired, but asherein shown is as follows:

a bare two end pieces having inortises Z Z,-

receiving legs m m, adjustable therein by means of pins n n, and saidend pieces are connected by two side pieces 0 d, which are in turnconnected by a central cross-piece 76. Within this framework is locatedthe windlass proper, which consists of a shaft g, journaled in the endand cross pieces and having a longitudinal groove 70 and two drums t'jsplined thereon at opposite sides of the crosspiece 71, and from thesedrums depend the straps B, hereinafter mentioned, from which it will beseen that by sliding the drums to proper points on the shaft the strapsmaybe adjusted to caskets of various lengths. shaft may be rotated inany suitable manner; but in the present instance I have shown a gear N,meshing with another gear P on a crank-shaft R, and a pivoted pawl 9"may en gage one gear to prevent movement of the Windlass when notdesired.

Coming now more particularly to the present invention,tl1e clasp D (bestseen in Figs. 2 and 3) consists of a body E, having a longitudinalchannel 0, th rough which the strap B passes and within which it issecured by a headed pin g and two projecting pins F. At one side of thischannel the body projects in a rigid flange G, having a series ofperforations a, and to the other edge of the body E is hinged a wing H,having a series of struckup loops 0 so located as to pass through theseperforations when the wing is closed and also having holes I)registering with the pins F. \Vhen the wing is closed, a latchconsisting of a pin L is passed down through the loops 0 at the fartherside of the flange G, and thus locks the wing in position until thelatch is again removed. For this purpose a cord K isused, as seen inFig. 2. The body of the strap continuing downward below this catch, itsend is brought upward again and provided with holes to pass over thepins F, as will be This clear, and the closing of the wing and engagingof the holes I) over these pinsand against the strap hold the latter inplace.

7t designates a throw-off consisting of a strap of metal having alongitudinal slotf', sliding under the head of the pin g, astride thetwo pins F, and over the body of the strap, which is secured within thechannel 0, and the lower end of this throw-01f is enlarged orwedge'shaped, as best seen at k in Fig. 3. To the upper end of thethrow-off is attached a cord 11 for operating the same, and in thepresent instance I have shown this cord as t connected, as at 12?, withthe latclrcord K in such manner that a pull on the latter firstwithdraws thelatch and then moves the t browoff upward.

\Vith this construction of parts each strap is carried down below theclasp to form a loop sufliciently large to take in the casket C, asshown in Fig. l, and its extremity is returned and clasped under thewing [I,which islatched in closed position by the pin L. After thecasket has been lowered into the grave a sudden pull upon the cord Iitrips the catch and throws out the end of the strap, and the latter isthen drawn up by hand and the entire framework immediately carried outof sight.

I do not confine myself to the exact sizes, shapes, proportions, andmaterials of parts, as considerable change can be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit of my ininvention, and especially do I wishnot to be confined to the use of this clasp for any partieular purpose,though it is well adapted to the means set forth above.

What is claimed as new is 1. A clasp consisting of a body having alongitudinal channel wherein are projecting pins, a rigid flange at oneside of the channel provided with perforations, a wing hinged to thebody at the other side of the channel and having loops adapted to passthrough said perforations and holes adapted to pass over said pins whenthe wing is closed, and a pin removably engaging said loops at thefarther side of the flange, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a clasp, the combination with a channeled body having a flange,projecting pins standing in the channel, a wing hinged to the body atthe edge opposite the flange, interlocking loops and perforations insaid wing and flange, and a pin removably engaging the loops; ofathrow-off moving in said groove astride said pins, as and for thepurpose set forth.

3. In a clasp, the combination with a channeled body having a headed pinand a plu rality of projecting pins within its channel, a wing hinged atone edge of the body and provided with holes adapted to engage thepoints of said pins, and a detachable latch for holding said wingclosed; of a throw-off consisting of a metallic strap with a wedgeshapedlower end projecting below the catch, its body sliding within saidgroove and having a slot passing under said headed pin and astride theother pins, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In aclasp, the combination with the body in two members one of whichis channeled, a hinge connecting the members at one edge, and a latchdetach-ably connecting them at the other edge; of pins within saidchannel, a throw-off consisting of a metallic strap having awedge-shaped lower end projecting normally below the clasp and a slottedbody moving in the channel astride said pins, and means for operatingthe throw-off, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In aclasp, the combination with the body consisting of two membershinged together at one edge and having interlocking perforations andloops at their other edge, a latch-pin engaging the loops when themembers are closed, and pins projecting from one member toward theother; of a throw-01f adapted to slide longitudinally between saidmembers when they are closed and having an enlarged and wedge-shapedlower end projecting normally below them, an operating-cord attached tothe upper end of said locking-pin, and an extension of the cord beyondsuch pin of attachment to and connected with said throwotf, as and forthe purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES D. MOORE.

Witnesses:

J. E. GILLESPIE, J. L. FRANKLIN.

